Jesus was preparing for His crucifixion and, “…began to be SORROWFUL and TROUBLED. Then He said, “My soul is OVERWHELMED with 1SORROW to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” Going a little farther, He FELL WITH HIS FACE TO THE GROUND and prayed, “My Father, IF IT IS POSSIBLE, may this cup be TAKEN FROM ME. Yet not as I will, but AS YOU WILL.” (Matt. 26:37-39) 1lupeō: to be distraught with sadness and anguish.
Jesus “…now, ONCE at the end of the ages, has appeared to PUT AWAY (by taking it all on Himself) SIN (all sin by every person) by the SACRIFICE OF HIMSELF.” (Heb. 9:26) Was Jesus afraid of the pain and humiliation He was facing? No, although He was confronting this as very man. Why was He so overwhelmed with sorrow? Because for the FIRST and ONLY time in all of history, God the Father would have to TURN HIS BACK on God the Son. This is absolute proof that, “…God SO LOVED the world that HE GAVE His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have EVERLASTING LIFE. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him MIGHT BE SAVED.” (John 3:16-17)
-Bill Stockham